Connee Boswell
| Connee Boswell | |
|---|---|
Boswell in 1941.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Constance Foore Boswell |
| Born |
December 3, 1907 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 1976 (aged 68) Manhattan, New York City, U.S, |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist |
| Instruments | Vocal |
Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907 in Kansas City, Missouri – October 11, 1976 in New York City, New York) was an American female vocalist born in Kansas City but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters. They became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio.
Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her." In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).
She was born on December 3, 1907 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Boswells came to be well known locally while still in their early teens, making appearances in New Orleans theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925, which included "Cryin' Blues" where Connee is featured singing in the style of her early influence, African-American singer Mamie Smith. The Boswell Sisters became stage professionals that year when they were tapped to fill in for an act at New Orleans' Orpheum Theatre. They received an invitation to come to Chicago and perform in 1928 and honed their act on the Western Vaudeville Circuit. When their tour ended they traveled to San Francisco. The hotel that had been recommended had a less than savory reputation, and the man at the desk suggested that these three young ladies might be better off in another hotel. That man, Harry Leedy, part owner of Decca Records, would become the sisters' manager on a handshake and Connee's husband.
The sisters traveled to Los Angeles where they performed on local radio and "side-miked" for the soundies, including the 1930 production Under Montana Skies. They did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records from 1931-1935. In 1935, the sisters had a #1 hit with "The Object of My Affection", the biggest of twenty top 20 records they would enjoy. In 1936, the group signed to Decca Records and after just three releases called it quits (the last recording was February 12, 1936). Connee continued to have a successful solo career as a singer for Decca.
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